Mitcham thief who stole woman's bag in Carshalton robbery is jailed

Mitcham thief who stole woman's bag in Carshalton robbery jailed

A thief from Mitcham who stole a woman’s bag during a gunpoint robbery in Carshalton has been jailed.

Stephen Hale, of Tull Street, was sentenced to prison following the incident which happened shortly after 11pm on November 7 in Mill Lane.

Hale approached the victim from behind on a pedal cycle and stole her bag after threatening her with what she said was a handgun, according to police.

Officers then managed to obtain CCTV footage from a nearby private residence, which caught the crime on camera, before they went searching for the suspect.

The victim’s mobile phone was stolen during the robbery and was traced back to an address in Wallington where police arrested a man who left the property and cycled off on a bike similar to the one shown on CCTV.

Hale, 35, was found guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence at Croydon Crown Court on April 15.

He was sentenced to eight years for robbery and five years for possession of a firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.

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